Volume 5, Number 1

Ghandi’s Nonviolence Concept: A Panacea For Peaceful Co-Existence In Contemporary Nigeria

  Authors

Aremu Mercy Adenike, University of Ilorin, Nigeria

  Abstract

Nigeria had witnessed several insecurity challenges and impediments to developmental agendas. However, there is considerable interest at resolving the root cause(s) of these violent acts. Some studies identified a symbiotic relationship between political corruptions and unresolved grievances in governance as the foundational root causes. While other studies averred that the significance of religion as a force in social life had been structurally impaired.

The aim of this study is to examine the relevance of Gandhi’s theory of nonviolence as a solution to violent crisis, in the contemporary Nigerian society. To achieve its slated objectives, the research employs an expository, historical and critical analysis of data that were sourced from the news media outputs, academic publications and the use of inductive and deductive reasoning.

The methods will enable us discover the variables that often influence episodes of violent acts in Nigeria. Hence, the significance of Gandhi’s concept of nonviolence will be accessed in the light of the insecurity challenges witnessed in the contemporary Nigerian society.

The study concludes that, Gandhi’s non-violence principle laid credence solutions to the following problems: (a) a country struggling or divided along political and ideological parameters (b) a country with inequitable wealth allocation and social class struggle. (c) Sectarian violence and barriers to genuine dialogue (e) Religious fundamentalism, among others.

  Keywords

Nonviolence, Panacea, Co-existence, Contemporary, Nigeria